The first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season slams into Carriacou, which is part of Grenada, amid warnings of ‘life-threatening conditions’.

Caribbean Battered by Beryl

Hurricane Beryl hit the Caribbean island of Carriacou, part of Grenada, as a potent Category 4 storm. The National Hurricane Center raised alarms about the dangerous situation, with winds escalating rapidly.

Carriacou, an island in Grenada, witnessed wind speeds reaching 240kmph (150mph), resulting in structural damage and roof losses.

Barbados, Grenada, Tobago, and St Vincent and the Grenadines were under hurricane warnings as inhabitants sought refuge in homes and shelters.

The last major hurricane to strike the southeastern Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan two decades ago, claiming many lives in Grenada.

St Lucia, Martinique, Trinidad, and parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic were under tropical storm advisories. Jamaica was under a hurricane watch.

Forecasters cautioned about a potential storm surge of up to 9 feet and heavy rainfall across the affected regions.

Beryl's trajectory indicated a weakening trend as it moved towards Jamaica and later Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Government authorities in several Caribbean islands implemented controlled shutdowns and issued warnings about landslides and flash floods.

Beryl intensified due to exceptionally warm sea temperatures, a phenomenon that occurred further east in the tropical Atlantic than previously witnessed.

Jaswinderpal Parmar from Fresno, California, shared his experience of being stranded in Barbados during the storm.